Methods of management of flail chest.

Abstract

We have treated 30 patients with flail chest, with priority given to associated factors (pain, secretions retention, hemo-/pneumothorax and underlying pulmonary contusion). When this treatment was insufficient IMV + PEEP was instituted; in this group there was a 58.8% incidence of pneumonia, 47.5% of sepsis and 11.7 days average stay in the ICU. These were significantly different when compared to the patients controlled without mechanical ventilatory support 7.7% pneumonia, 0% sepsis, 3.2 days). Surgical fixation was limnited to 4 patients who presented with multiple and greatly displace rib fractures, which made fixation by mechanical ventilation unpredictable.

• Authors: J L Carpintero, A Rodriguez Diez, M J Ruiz Elvira, J A Benitez, A Perez Rielo
• Journal: Intensive care medicine (Intensive Care Med) Vol. 6 Issue 4 Pg. 217-21 (Aug 1980) ISSN: 0342-4642 [Print] United States
• PMID: 6999060 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Abdominal Injuries (complications, surgery)
• Adult
• Aged
• Flail Chest (complications, therapy)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Positive-Pressure Respiration
• Respiration, Artificial
• Rib Fractures (complications, surgery)
• Thoracic Injuries (complications, therapy)